Gardening

I know next to nothing about gardening but with the aid of a good book & the good old internet I’ve come up with a few tips on what to do in your garden in May and June. I know that there are many keen gardeners in Needham.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if they would share their expertise with us by giving seasonal tips and advice? So, I should be grateful beyond words if some greenfingered villager(s) could come up with gardening tips for the Link.  In the meantime.....

Beware late frosts and keep vulnerable plants and new shoots protected at night if frost is forecast. Don’t be tempted to put out tender bedding until the middle of the month and even then be prepared to cover it if necessary.

Continue with spring cleaning. Hoe your borders to get rid of weeds before they take hold (ideally on a dry day ) - annual weeds such as bitter cress and groundsel are enough of a nightmare without allowing them to multiply by seeding. If it’s dry, attack ground elder and the like with systemic weed killer painted onto the leaves. Take care - these systemic weed killers are indiscriminate and will kill anything they contact. Dandelions are a nuisance at this time of year - if you don’t have time to deal with them terminally, at least chop their heads off before they set seed

MAY:

Lawns - mow at least once a week.  Apply weed killer if necessary.  feed poorly growing grass with sulphate of ammonia at 1/2 oz per square yard.  Water well afterwards.  Spike badly drained areas. 

Annuals - Plant out half-hardy annuals after the risk of frost has passed.  Sow biennials.

Fruit - put straw round strawberry plants

JUNE:

Lawns - mow at least once a month

Annuals - support tall-growing annuals.  Prick off seedlings of biennials.

Fruit - Cover with netting against birds.  Begin by thinning apples, pears, gooseberries & plums. Summer prune redcurrants & gooseberries.